Unit 6 Section AUnit 6 Section AThe WidowThe Widow

Questions:Questions: 1. How does the story impress 1. How does the story impress

you, or how do you feel about you, or how do you feel about it, a happy one or an unhappy it, a happy one or an unhappy one?one?

2. Who or what has left you the 2. Who or what has left you the deepest impression, if any?deepest impression, if any?

3. Why did the couple address each 3. Why did the couple address each other other Wife Wife and and Husband,Husband, rather rather thanthan Honey Honey or or SweetheartSweetheart??

Because the ‘messenger’ called Because the ‘messenger’ called them so at their wedding and they them so at their wedding and they used them in order to remember used them in order to remember her good wishes.her good wishes.

4. How did the wife and husband show their 4. How did the wife and husband show their love/affection/care/concern for each other?love/affection/care/concern for each other?

They expressed their concern or love for each They expressed their concern or love for each other through daily routines:other through daily routines:

They understood and appreciated each other, They understood and appreciated each other, sharing their housework.sharing their housework.

They kept using ‘Wife’ and ‘Husband’ in They kept using ‘Wife’ and ‘Husband’ in greetings.greetings.

They liked talking about their mysterious They liked talking about their mysterious ‘messenger’, who brought them a lot of joy.‘messenger’, who brought them a lot of joy.

The widow kept the fading envelop as symbol of The widow kept the fading envelop as symbol of love both from her husband and God.love both from her husband and God.

5. Why did the husband say ‘she was the 5. Why did the husband say ‘she was the wrongwrong shape for a heavenly messenger’? shape for a heavenly messenger’?

(an angel, a religious being believed to act (an angel, a religious being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God in human form with wings and long God in human form with wings and long robe.) And it is evident that the shape of robe.) And it is evident that the shape of the short, fat, and old lady doesn’t match the short, fat, and old lady doesn’t match that of an angel.that of an angel.

What’s the symbolic message of the What’s the symbolic message of the ‘short, portly, elderly person’?‘short, portly, elderly person’?

The symbolic message is just as you doThe symbolic message is just as you don’t have to be beautiful to be a messen’t have to be beautiful to be a messenger, you don’t have to be very rich tnger, you don’t have to be very rich to live a happy life.o live a happy life.

7. How does this ‘love’ story compar7. How does this ‘love’ story compare ‘Romeo and Juliet’ or ‘Liang Shae ‘Romeo and Juliet’ or ‘Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai (Butterfly Love)’?nbo and Zhu Yingtai (Butterfly Love)’?

8. Which is your favorite love mode, 8. Which is your favorite love mode, the ‘widow’ mode or the ‘Titanic’ the ‘widow’ mode or the ‘Titanic’ mode or the ‘Butterfly’ mode, and mode or the ‘Butterfly’ mode, and why?why?

9.Do you have a mysterious but happy 9.Do you have a mysterious but happy story in your life?story in your life?

Language points:Language points:

the opposite of a the opposite of a widowwidow is a is a widowerwidower

alonealone: : He lives alone.He lives alone. She likes being alone in the house.She likes being alone in the house. Time alone will tell.Time alone will tell. not to be alone in doing sthnot to be alone in doing sth I’m not alone in thinking that this is a mistake.I’m not alone in thinking that this is a mistake. to leave/let sb/sth alone: not interfere with sb/sthto leave/let sb/sth alone: not interfere with sb/sth Let me alone.Let me alone. Leave my things alone.Leave my things alone. but let alone: without consideringbut let alone: without considering The baby can’t even walk, let alone run.The baby can’t even walk, let alone run.

considerablyconsiderably: a lot: a lot

The courses vary considerably in length, The courses vary considerably in length, level, and objectives.level, and objectives.

considerable: of noticeable importantconsiderable: of noticeable important The earthquake in Ruichang, Jiangxi ProThe earthquake in Ruichang, Jiangxi Pro

vince caused considerable damage to thvince caused considerable damage to the local houses. e local houses.

to to underlineunderline: draw a line under someth: draw a line under something written or print/ emphasizeing written or print/ emphasize

The upsurge in violence underlines the nThe upsurge in violence underlines the need for continuing peace talks.eed for continuing peace talks.

The improvement in retail sales has undThe improvement in retail sales has underlined by these figures. erlined by these figures.

The professor underlined that the studeThe professor underlined that the students would not welcome these changes. nts would not welcome these changes.

to to experienceexperience: feel: feel

to experience pleasure/pain/difficulty/dto experience pleasure/pain/difficulty/defeat/efeat/

problems/hardships/depression/problems/hardships/depression/ discrimination/discrimination/ changes/(wonderful)feelingchanges/(wonderful)feeling to experience sth at first handto experience sth at first hand They experienced Chinese hospitality at They experienced Chinese hospitality at

first hand. first hand.

intenseintense: very great/very strong: very great/very strong

intense heat/pain/interest/anger/hatredintense heat/pain/interest/anger/hatred//

jealousy/convictions(jealousy/convictions( 信念信念 )) /competition/pressure//competition/pressure/ cold/sunlight/concentrationcold/sunlight/concentration

to to begin withbegin with: start: start

We began the meeting with a discussion We began the meeting with a discussion about the budget.about the budget.

The movie begins with a plane crash.The movie begins with a plane crash. The word ‘cat’ begins with the letter The word ‘cat’ begins with the letter

‘c’.‘c’.

blurblur (n): a shape that is difficult to s (n): a shape that is difficult to see clearly ee clearly

Everything is a blur when I take my glassEverything is a blur when I take my glasses off.es off.

but It happened so long ago that it’s jubut It happened so long ago that it’s just a blur to me now. st a blur to me now.

to to filefile: walk in line: walk in line

to file past/into/in/across/outto file past/into/in/across/out but Please file the invoices in chronologibut Please file the invoices in chronologi

cal order.cal order.

sympathizersympathizer (n.) (n.) to sympathize (v.)to sympathize (v.) to sympathize with sbto sympathize with sb We sympathize deeply with the families of the victims.We sympathize deeply with the families of the victims. sympathy (n)sympathy (n) to have/feel sympathy for sb/sthto have/feel sympathy for sb/sth We have great sympathy for the victims of the earthquWe have great sympathy for the victims of the earthqu

ake.ake. sympathetic (adj)sympathetic (adj) to feel/be sympathetic to/toward/with sb/about sthto feel/be sympathetic to/toward/with sb/about sth sympathetically (adv)sympathetically (adv)

to to definedefine: state precisely the meani: state precisely the meaning of /explainng of /explain

Some words are hard to define because Some words are hard to define because they have many different uses.they have many different uses.

In this dictionary, ‘reality’ is defined aIn this dictionary, ‘reality’ is defined as the state of things as they are, rather ts the state of things as they are, rather than as they are imagined to be.han as they are imagined to be.

It’s hard to define exactly what has chaIt’s hard to define exactly what has changed.nged.

to to approachapproach: come near in space, t: come near in space, time, quality, or quantityime, quality, or quantity

Chinese New Year is approaching.Chinese New Year is approaching. He is a good player, but doesn’t approach intHe is a good player, but doesn’t approach int

ernational standard.ernational standard. but There are several ways of approaching (debut There are several ways of approaching (de

al with) this problem/issue.al with) this problem/issue. I find him difficult to approach (not easy to talI find him difficult to approach (not easy to tal

k to in a friendly way).k to in a friendly way). to approach sb about sth: go to sb for help or sto approach sb about sth: go to sb for help or s

upportupport I have approached my boss for a pay rise. I have approached my boss for a pay rise.

to to congratulatecongratulate sb (on sth) sb (on sth) We congratulated him on his recent promotion.We congratulated him on his recent promotion. Let me congratulate you on winning the Hartford AwaLet me congratulate you on winning the Hartford Awa

rd!rd! You can congratulate yourself on having done a good jYou can congratulate yourself on having done a good j

ob.ob. but congratulations (to sb on sth)but congratulations (to sb on sth) Congratulations on a well-earned retirement after 42 Congratulations on a well-earned retirement after 42

years on the job.years on the job. Let me offer my hearty/sincere congratulations upon Let me offer my hearty/sincere congratulations upon

your receiving this honor.your receiving this honor. Congratulations on your graduation!Congratulations on your graduation!

forfor (all): despite/in spite of (all): despite/in spite of

For all his complaining, he enjoyed himsFor all his complaining, he enjoyed himself very much.elf very much.

For all his wealth and fame, he’s a very For all his wealth and fame, he’s a very lonely man.lonely man.

to to loanloan: lend: lend

Loan me five bucks, will you?Loan me five bucks, will you? I loaned him some lunch money.I loaned him some lunch money. loan (n): money lentloan (n): money lent an interest-free loan; a bank loanan interest-free loan; a bank loan to apply for/ask for/pay off/repay a loanto apply for/ask for/pay off/repay a loan but Can I have a loan of your course book/bike?but Can I have a loan of your course book/bike? a loan shark: a lender of money at high rate of a loan shark: a lender of money at high rate of

interestinterest

to to affordafford: have enough money, tim: have enough money, time, space, etc for e, space, etc for

They had to walk because they couldn’t afford the taThey had to walk because they couldn’t afford the taxi.xi.

I’m so busy, I can rarely afford the luxury of a restful I’m so busy, I can rarely afford the luxury of a restful weekend.weekend.

to afford to do sthto afford to do sth I can’t afford to lose my job.I can’t afford to lose my job. No politician can afford to ignore the power of televisiNo politician can afford to ignore the power of televisi

on.on. affordable: cheap enough for ordinary people to afforaffordable: cheap enough for ordinary people to affor

dd sth to be affordablesth to be affordable affordable housing/childcare/pricesaffordable housing/childcare/prices

to to recallrecall: remember: remember

As I recall, you still owe me 50 bucks.As I recall, you still owe me 50 bucks. The old man recalled the city as it had bThe old man recalled the city as it had b

een before the war.een before the war. Try to recall exactly what happened.Try to recall exactly what happened. He recalled that he paid back the loan oHe recalled that he paid back the loan o

ver a month ago.ver a month ago.

to to conveyconvey: make known to another : make known to another personperson

Words cannot convey how delighted I wWords cannot convey how delighted I was.as.

His music conveys a sense of optimism.His music conveys a sense of optimism. I tried to convey how grateful we all werI tried to convey how grateful we all wer

e for his help.e for his help. She could see the look that conveyed all She could see the look that conveyed all

the tenderness he felt for her.the tenderness he felt for her.

to to respondrespond: reply/react: reply/react Thousands of readers responded to our questionnaire.Thousands of readers responded to our questionnaire. Colleges responded swiftly to the demand for new couColleges responded swiftly to the demand for new cou

rses.rses. The body often responds to stress by becoming ill.The body often responds to stress by becoming ill. Protesters threw stones at police, who responded witProtesters threw stones at police, who responded wit

h rubber bullets.h rubber bullets. The government should listen to people and respond The government should listen to people and respond

to their needs.to their needs. Animals respond to kindness.Animals respond to kindness. The patient responded well to drug treatment. The patient responded well to drug treatment.

to to assertassert: state something clearly a: state something clearly as truth/state forcefully s truth/state forcefully

He asserted his innocence/opinions.He asserted his innocence/opinions. She asserted that she was innocent.She asserted that she was innocent. to assert one’s rights/independence/ato assert one’s rights/independence/a

uthority (uthority ( 维护自己的权利维护自己的权利 // 独立性独立性 // 权威权威 )) to assert oneself to assert oneself 表现出自信表现出自信 // 理直气壮理直气壮

to to restrainrestrain: control/prevent from doi: control/prevent from doing sth ng sth

to restrain oneself/one’s anger/laughtto restrain oneself/one’s anger/laughter/tears/impulses/er/tears/impulses/

ambitions/natural urges/desireambitions/natural urges/desire

anniversaryanniversary: yearly return of the d: yearly return of the date of an eventate of an event

a wedding anniversary; the 50th annivera wedding anniversary; the 50th anniversary of our country’s independence; sary of our country’s independence;

an anniversary celebrationan anniversary celebration

to to bring upbring up: mention/educate and c: mention/educate and care for are for

Don’t bring up that embarrassing topic.Don’t bring up that embarrassing topic. She was brought up to believe that monShe was brought up to believe that mon

ey is the most important thing in life.ey is the most important thing in life. He was born and brought up in Canada.He was born and brought up in Canada.

to to insistinsist: declare firmly/demand: declare firmly/demand

to insist (on (doing) sth)to insist (on (doing) sth) All right, I’ll do it, if you insist.All right, I’ll do it, if you insist. He insisted on his innocence, even thouHe insisted on his innocence, even thou

gh the police refused to believe him.gh the police refused to believe him. She still insists she wasn’t there at the She still insists she wasn’t there at the

time.time.

to to attendattend: be present at an event or : be present at an event or activity/go regularly to a placeactivity/go regularly to a place

to attend a meeting/to attend a meeting/ a class/classes/school/a class/classes/school/ the seminars/church/the funeral/the wedthe seminars/church/the funeral/the wed

ding/the courtding/the court The meeting was well attended.The meeting was well attended. Hundreds attended the wedding.Hundreds attended the wedding.

to to mattermatter: be important: be important

People need to realize that education mPeople need to realize that education matters.atters.

Winning this award matters a lot to me.Winning this award matters a lot to me. Does it matter if I don’t take a present?Does it matter if I don’t take a present? It doesn’t matter what you wear ------ jIt doesn’t matter what you wear ------ j

ust as long as you come.ust as long as you come.

Stay warm!Stay warm!And have a And have a nice day! nice day!